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Pell LG, Turab A, Bassani DG, Shi J, Soofi S, Hussain M, Ariff S, Bhutta ZA, Morris SK. Effect of an integrated neonatal care kit on neonatal health outcomes: a cluster randomised controlled trial in rural Pakistan. BMJ Glob Health 2019; 4:e001393. [PMID: 31179036 PMCID: PMC6528753 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2019-001393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2019] [Revised: 04/01/2019] [Accepted: 04/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction In 2016, 2.6 million children died during their first month of life. We assessed the effectiveness of an integrated neonatal care kit (iNCK) on neonatal survival and other health outcomes in rural Pakistan. Methods We conducted a community-based, cluster randomised, pragmatic, open-label, controlled intervention trial in Rahim Yar Khan, Punjab, Pakistan. Clusters, 150 villages and their lady health workers (LHWs), were randomly assigned to deliver the iNCK (intervention) or standard of care (control). In intervention clusters, LHWs delivered the iNCK and education on its use to pregnant women. The iNCK contained a clean birth kit, chlorhexidine, sunflower oil, a continuous temperature monitor (ThermoSpot), a heat reflective blanket and reusable heat pack. LHWs were also given a hand-held scale. The iNCK was implemented primarily by caregivers. The primary outcome was all-cause neonatal mortality. Outcomes are reported at the individual level, adjusted for cluster allocation. Enrolment took place between April 2014 and July 2015 and participant follow-up concluded in August 2015. Results 5451 pregnant women (2663 and 2788 in intervention and control arms, respectively) and their 5286 liveborn newborns (2585 and 2701 in intervention and control arms, respectively) were enrolled. 147 newborn deaths were reported, 65 in the intervention arm (25.4 per 1000 live births) compared with 82 in the control arm (30.6 per 1000 live births). Neonatal mortality was not significantly different between treatment groups (risk ratio 0.83, 95% CI 0.58 – 1.18; p = 0.30). Conclusion Providing co-packaged interventions directly to women did not significantly reduce neonatal mortality. Further research is needed to improve compliance with intended iNCK use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa G Pell
- Centre for Global Child Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ali Turab
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Division of Women and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Diego G Bassani
- Centre for Global Child Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Joy Shi
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard University T H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sajid Soofi
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Division of Women and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Masawar Hussain
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Division of Women and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Shabina Ariff
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Division of Women and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Zulfiqar A Bhutta
- Centre for Global Child Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Division of Women and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Shaun K Morris
- Centre for Global Child Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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